Nigerian-Born Artist Creates Official Obama Portrait for Presidential Center
A Nigerian-born contemporary artist, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, has been selected to produce the official portrait of former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama for display at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
The artwork, which was unveiled this week, forms part of a broader collection of pieces being prepared ahead of the centre’s scheduled opening on Juneteenth. It will be permanently exhibited in the facility’s “Hope and Change” lobby.
Barack Obama, while commenting on the unveiling, described the portrait as a meaningful reflection of key moments in his and Michelle Obama’s personal and public journey, expressing satisfaction with the collaboration with the artist.
Michelle Obama also praised the work, describing it as a lively and expressive representation of their lives, noting that the artist successfully captured both emotion and identity in the piece.
Akunyili Crosby, who was born in Nigeria and is based in the United States, is internationally recognised for her mixed-media style, which combines painting, collage, drawing, and photographic elements. Her works often explore identity, migration, and cultural connection.
She has received global recognition, with her works featured in major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Whitney Museum of American Art. She is also a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship, awarded in recognition of her creative excellence and innovation.
The portrait commission is part of a series of artworks being curated for the Obama Presidential Center, which aims to preserve and showcase the legacy of the former US president and first lady.
